The Issue

A licence to Industrially Extract 1860 acres of Native Kelp in Bantry Bay has been issued to BioAtlantis, Tralee.

NO Public Consultation took place. This licence was NOT Advertised Adequately. This licence has been issued with NO requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment [E.I.A.]

This is the largest industrial scale native Kelp Extraction Licence ever issued in Irish or British waters.

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TOMORROW MAY BE TOO LATE

Artist: Helen O'Keeffe

SOLD

Title: Neighbours

Medium: Acrylic and oil on Fabriano.

Dimensions: 25 cm x 25 cm

Price: €50

ART REF iD: 045

We need to think before we act

And we need to act before it's too late

"I can only compare these great aquatic forests of the southern hemisphere with the terrestrial ones in the inter-tropical regions. Yet if in any country a forest was destroyed, I do not believe nearly so many species of animals would perish as would here, from the destruction of the kelp

Amidst the leaves of this plant numerous species of fish live, which nowhere else could find food or shelter; with their destruction the many cormorants and other fishing birds, the otters, seals, and porpoises, would soon perish"

~ Charles Darwin

Public consultation and advertising required

NO mention of 'MECHANICAL HARVEST' ¦ NO mention of 'NATIVE KELP FOREST' ¦ NO mention of '1860 ACRES OF BANTRY BAY'

Dept of Housing stated that a notice was placed in a national newspaper - no record can be found by the Dept. of the advertisement published

Why?

No public meetings

No consultation with Bantry Bay Coastal Zone Charter Groups (formal framework for public consultation for developments in Bantry Bay).

Why?

No information on development given to Cork County Council

Notice placed in Bantry Bay Garda Station for 21 days - no access to copy of record on Dept. of Housing website

Why?

Advertisement placed by BioAtlantis in Southern Star Newspaper on 12th December 2009 states 'Occupy an area of foreshore for the purpose of harvesting specific seaweed at Bantry Bay'

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